Faye Nelson

Faye Nelson is the 2017-2018 Sojourner Truth Fellow. Nelson is the vice president of DTE Energy, and board chair and president of the DTE Energy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of DTE. DTE Energy is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. A lawyer by training, Nelson has had the privilege of working in the community on a variety of transformational projects including the redevelopment of the Detroit riverfront and, in her current role, leading the Foundation’s strategy and investments in communities throughout the State in such areas as education/jobs, economic development, arts and culture and the development and sustainability of neighborhoods. Nelson formerly served as president and CEO of the non-profit Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, the organization charged with leading the transformation of the Detroit riverfront. Under Nelson’s leadership, the Conservancy represented one of the most successful public-private partnerships that included foundations, corporations, the public sector and the community at large in support of the revitalization and sustainability of the riverfront.